Monday, December 14, 2009

This is our needle felted nativity. Yaya was the master mind behind this and has played with it extensively since it was created. She made the baby Jesus herself and of course we needed a little lamb too! To make this I just used 2 pipe cleaners per person and formed them into people shapes by making a loop for the head and arms from one pipe cleaner and then making the legs from the other. Then we just started wrapping the roving around to head and arms and added "clothes". I also used pipe cleaners to make the frame of the manger and then we felted it and filled it with "hay" (raffia). It was a lot of fun and I liked the idea of having a nativity that the kids could play with. They've learned a lot about the story surrounding baby Jesus' birth by playing (and my story telling) with the characters.

Friday, December 4, 2009

I can't take credit for this idea. I got it from someone on the waldorfcurriculum-supplies yahoo group. They were selling one similar to this. I again just made up my own way of making this because I loved the idea so much. We've never done an advent wreath before but I thought it was a great way to bring the Christmas season back to the basics and Christ centered. If you aren't familiar with the significance and tradition of the advent wreath, there are some great resources online. Wikipedia has a lot of info. I like to use what I have on hand so my felting is not "conventional" I'm sure. I started with some cotton batting that I had on hand. I cut it in a rectangle shape and rolled it up. I then wrapped it with green roving, needled it a bit and then sewed the ends together. Then I added red roving, needled it, made a felt bow and needle it on. Then I added a candle. The advent wreath will have either 4 or 5 candles, depending on if you put the candle in the center on Christmas. The colors vary. Catholics use 3 Purple to symbolize "royalty" and 1 rose candle "joy" and protestents typically use 4 blue to sybolize "hope". I had some purple and blue roving on hand so the kids and I thought it was the perfect blend symbolizing both royalty and hope... beautiful symbols of this season. I used some orangy colored roving for the flame. The candle was easy. You just roll it in a cylinder shape and needle it. (Here's a tip... the tighter you wrap the roving, the less needling you will have to do because more air will be pushed out.)

The first candle is the Prophet candle and represents Isaiah's (and other prophets) prophecy of the coming of the messiah. Daddy read some scripture from the bible and we talked about the prophecy of Christ and put on the first candle. It was a very nice way to bring Christ back to the center of our Christmas when there is so much commercialism this time of year. I hope you enjoy this and are inspired to bring the season back "home" and unite your families in the joy and meaning of the season. Some of you viewing this may celebrate this season a little differently and I hope this still inspires you to start a tradition of hope and light in your homes for this blessed time of year!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

We had such a nice Thanksgiving. It was very relaxing and the kids enjoyed their "feast". Escpecially P-Nut who practically broke his leg trying to run out of the neighbors house when I told him dinner was ready! He could barely wait for that Turkey! It was the first year that I brined the Turkey and it was awesome. What a difference! I'll never be able to make it any other way now. If you haven't made it that way, I would highly recommend it.

We went to Lion Country with our homeschool group and the kids all had such a great time! There are so many fun things to do there. It's very interactive. The kids had a short "lesson" time with one of the animal trainers and then explored the park. They were able to feed giraffes and birds and pet the goats. They also spent some time playing at the splash park and riding the ferris wheel (or fairest wheel as yaya would call it). On our way out we drove through the animal safari which was full of all types of exotic animals. It took us about an hour to drive through. Their favorite site was monkey island. The monkeys can't swim so putting them on a small island allows them to roam around without being caged in. It's fun to watch them climb and swing! The lions are the grand finale of the safari. It was almost 5 o'clock in the evening when we were driving past them and they were starting to get active. There was one lioness who was playing with a large ball. It was very "cute". They are such amazing animals and look so harmless when they are playing and lying down taking a nap. For more info on this great park see: www.lioncountrysafari.com .